Hat-body-shaping apparatus



(No Model.)

J. B. BUGKMAN'. Y HAT BODY SHAPING APPARATUS.

Patented June '7 1898.

r UNrrED-QSrATEs; PATE JOSEPH B, BUOKMAN,

OF OLEVELAND, OHIO.

HAT-BQVDY-ISHIAPLING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 605,073, dated J 'une '7, 1898. Application filed March 2 189 Renewed November 17, 1897.1Seria11io. 659,200. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern: 7

7 Be it known that I, JOSEPH B. BUOKMAN, a citizen of the United States," residing at Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga'and Statezof Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hat-Body-Shaping Appara tus; and I do hereby. declarethe following to be-a full, clear, and exact description'ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. f

My invention relates to improvements in that class of hat-making 'machinery which is employed in and for the initial process of. shaping the crude stiffened felt hat-bodies into form of any possible or desirable design or fashion.

The objects of my improvement are, first, to equip the so-called stamping-machines upon which such Work is usually done with an apparatus and 1 devices upon and with which can be accomplished the shaping of said hat-bodies in a most expedient and economical manner, assuring at thesame'time a quality in or of said shaped, hat-bodies Whichjis perfect in every respect and ready for the velouring or finishing process, and, second, to render possible the treatment of any and all grades of wool hats as well as fur hats with like satisfactory results. I attain these objects by the application of a steam heating apparatus, a steam-spraying device,and exhausting contrivance,combined with and for the molds over and by which the hat-bodies are shaped, said apparatus, devices, and molds being adapted for use in connection with what'is technially known as a v stamping-machine.

That the invention may be fully understood and'seen reference will be had to the following specificationand the accompanying drawings,'in which-- Figure lrepres'ents a partial frontview of a stamping-machine equipped with a heater, steam spraying andexhausting device, and molds especially adapted to-serve conjoin'tly with the above-mentioned elements. Fig. 2 is a partial side and sectional view of-the' same, the section being taken on line 00:0,FigL 1. Fig. 3 represents a plan view of the bodymold or lower die, and Fig. f is an enlarged detached view of the automatic steam-spraying device used in connection with said heater and in open relation with the above-men tioned mold. a

Like letters of refereno e denote like parts in .thedra'wings and specification.-

' The steam-chest A is preferably cast of or i in the .form substantially as shown, the top surface A thereof being fiat or level for re ception of themoldor form B, a steam-pipe D, leading to the interior a of said'chest, and a second steam-pipe E connects with the conduit b, in the upper term'inaloftwhich is located the automatic spraying device F. (See enlarged sectional view, Fig. 4.) Said device comprises the bushing c, the valve d, and the perforated cap e. I For'receptionof the bushing and cap a conicaldepress'ion f is formed in the upper face A and concentric with the conduit 19 to attain the top of the chest in un obstructed condition; As, shown, it is the cap by meansof which the bushing is held securely in place in the tapering terminal of said conduit. Other modes of connection may be employed without 'departing\ from the nature of my invention. The valve 01 is seated in the face of said bushing, and the spring g, placed upon the stem of the valve between the cap and the bushing, assures a promptclosing action of the valve d, which vmust be overcome by the steam-pressure before steam can issue through the perforated cap e, and controlled by means of the valve G is the admission of steam into the conduit b; J is a drain-pipe for said conduit, and the pipes E I serve the same purpose for the chest The lower moldpr form B is securedf"to the flat top A of said chest. In the face or plan view of said mold there are indicated the lugs a a applied upon which are the clamps h h withbolts and thumb-nuts 6. Such or equivalent means may be employed for fastening the said mold or form into said chest.

The mold or form proper, B, comprises the crown j, the brim k, and the shell Z, Bothjthe crown and'brim are perforated and are 'at- I tained in elevated positions by means of said shell over and in open relation withthe automatic spraying device F upon the chest A. Thechest A itself is provided with legs or stands m, whereby the chest is securely attached to the operating-table H.

The follower O constitutes a counterpart IOO for the brim 7; only, leaving the crown j protruding through said follower. A bridge at is formed in connection with said follower for i'securing it to the clamp I of the movable transverse bar J.

(See Figs. 1 and 2.) The latter figure indicates the bar in raised position, whereupon the follower becomes removed from the body form or mold B.

In connection with the chest A the said body form or mold forms a chamber 71/, from which the exhaust-pipe L extends for the purpose of carrying off the steam.

Preparatory to beginning operations the mold and follower are thoroughly heated lby the admission of steam into said chest. As soon as the forms become hot then the follower is raised from off the form or mold B to admit of placing a stiffened hat-body over same. Simultaneously the spraying device is set into action upon opening of the valve G. Steam in form of fine sprays then escapes through the perforations of the mold B and uniformly penetrates through the hat-body, which is thereby rendered soft and pliable and fit for being stretched onto and over the form I3, as shown in Fig. 1, the follower C being meanwhile lowered and pressed upon the brim of the hat by means of suitable mechanism, as shown. Immediately upon setting the follower the valve G is closed and the exhaust takes place through the pipe L. Hat-bodies being thus shaped and dried can and will not shrink or become deformed upon being removed from the molds or dies, and the surface of the hat is invariably without a blemish, in so far as the moistening and subsequent drying of said hat-bodyare done most uniformly, thoroughly, and expeditiously.

llerctofore gas-heated molds or dies were used for shaping hat-bodies. In this instance the bodies are first dipped into or sprinkled with water; but rarely cainthe stiffening become uniformly dissolved, and oftentimes does it happen that the molds are overheated, and the result is that the hat-bodies would leave the molds not only spotted, but also scorched. In addition to this detriment the combustion of gas causes a deleterious atmospheric condition of the workshops and endangers the health of the operators, and, furthermore, the consumption of gas is an item of expense which very largely affects the cost of manufacture of hats if used for and in the process as above stated. Connection with an exhaust may also be hadthrough a port in the chest A, as indicated by the dotted lines 0, (see Fig. 4 in lieu of the out let L in the mold .13.

\Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a hat-shaping apparatus, a heatingchamber, and suitable supply and exhaust pipes connected thereto, combined with a shaping-chamber, placed upon the top of the heating-chamber, and having a perforated top, a spring-valve located in the shapingchamber, a sprayer located over the valve, supply and exhaust pipes connected to the shaping-chamber, a follower for descending upon the top of the shaping-chamber, and a mechanism for operating the mold, snbstantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH l RUCKMAN.

Witnesses:

MILAN GALLAGHER, L. A. WILSON. 

